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AIDE-MEMOIRE BETWEEN THE UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL,

SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION (UNESCO) AND THE

GOVERNMENT OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM

(2005 - 2010)

At the invitation of the Government of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, Mr. Koïchiro Matsuura, Director General of UNESCO, paid an official visit to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam from 26 to 28 July 2005.

At the meetings, the President and the Deputy Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam expressed their high appreciation of the activities carried out by UNESCO, and its efforts to mobilize international support for the development of education, natural sciences, social and human sciences, culture, information and communication.

At the regional level, both parties recalled the success of the Asia-Pacific Regional Conference on ''Dialogue among Cultures and Civilizations for Peace and Sustainable Development'', jointly organized by the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and UNESCO on 20 and 21 December 2004 in Hanoi, and agreed upon follow-up activities.

They expressed satisfaction with their ongoing cooperation and their wish to further expand and enhance the existing partnership between the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and UNESCO in the fields of competence of the Organization.

To this end, the Vietnamese authorities have expressed their intention to implement with the cooperation of UNESCO the following activities within the fields of competence of UNESCO in Viet Nam:

EDUCATION

1. Implementation of the National EFA Plan of Action (2003 - 2015):

i) Moving from quantity to quality and relevance; expanding early childhood care and education; completing universalization of primary and lower secondary education; expanding lifelong learning opportunities; mobilizing full community support - Education for All; and ensuring effective management and the best possible utilization of resources;

ii) Systematic monitoring and assessment of quality of education; developing a policy framework and guidelines on educational quality; building capacity of education managers, curriculum developers and teachers to ensure quality delivery of educational services to achieve the Dakar goals by 2015, especially in reducing disparities, achieving gender quality and expanding access to disadvantaged populations by following the inclusive approach to education;

iii) Strengthening EFA coordination among all stakeholders and mobilization of support from within the country and abroad, and decentralized capabilities in educational planning, implementation and monitoring in all provinces.

2. Enhancing public and political awareness about the United Nations Literacy Decade - UNLD (2003 - 2012) and the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development - DESD (2005 - 2014) through organization of awarenessraising seminars, activities for high-ranking educational decision/policy makers, management officers at all levels as well as teachers/educators; development and distribution of guidelines and multimedia packages and other advocacy materials; and conducting running of a public campaign in support of national plans for UNLD and the launch of DESD:

i) Promoting ''literacy for all'' within the framework of the UNLD with a view to reducing poverty, particularly among the remaining pockets of illiterates, including disadvantaged populations such as the poor, the disabled, ethnic minorities, girls and women in remote areas, by organizing formal and non-formal education with a ''literacy plus" approach and mother- tongue/bilingual education;

ii) Establishing a National Committee for DESD: and facilitating all activities concerning DESD; enhancing the legal framework so that sustainability is incorporated into education laws, ordinances, curricula, standards, etc.; improving quality of education on based on Education for Sustainable Development.

3. Promoting an interdisciplinary approach to education by integrating across the educational curriculum life-skills, technical and vocational training, science and technology education, environment education, HIV/AIDS education, cultural heritage, cultural diversity, inter-cultural understanding, learning to live together, culture of peace, ICT, gender equality, poverty reduction, sustainable development, etc.

4. Expanding the national network of Community Learning Centres (CLCs) to provide quality non-formal educational opportunities to out-of-school children, youth and adults; emphasizing local learning needs so that the CLCs will serve as multi-purpose local hubs for literacy, post-literacy, life-skills and income-generation skills, as well as reading and cultural centres - with a view to achieving the Government's objectives of establishing CLCs in every commune and promoting local community involvement and support from other donors in order to build a learning society in Viet Nam.

5. Within the ASPnet Strategic Framework (2004 - 2009), reorienting the ASPnet towards quality education and to the EFA goals and supporting activities celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the ASPnet in Viet Nam (1995 - 2005); establishing partnership between ASPnet and CLCs as a means to promote both formal and informal education in the service of EFA.

6. Improving human resource development for education, including upgrading the teaching force and strengthening the planning and management capacity of officers in charge of education at national, provincial, district and local levels.

7. Providing expertise and technical and financial assistance to set up a computerized system for education evaluation and assessment to be used in schools as well as in other educational institutions.

8. Strengthening information-based decision-making in education at all levels by upgrading the education management information systems (EMIS); introducing and applying new ICTs into educational planning, management, the teaching/learning process and teacher training.

9. Strengthening ICT in Schools and SchoolNet Project in ASEAN setting.

10. Developing policy guidelines and strategies in the areas of higher education and technical/vocational education, based upon policy analysis.

11. Considering reviewing and improving its curricula for secondary and tertiary institutions to include HIV/AIDS prevention, stigma reduction and sex education, and integrate these issues into teacher training facilities.

NATURAL SCIENCES

12. Formulation of national policies and strategies for development of high technology in Viet Nam in such areas as: ICT, biotechnology, new materials, automation, mechatronics, etc.

13. Identification and implementation of S&T indicators and statistics; raising analytical capability to make decisions in S&T policy and strategy.

14. Enhancing and promoting activities to introduce modern sciences and technology alongside traditional and indigenous knowledge, practice and products (herbal, medicine, agricultural practices, crop varieties etc.) to benefit disadvantaged members of society, particularly women and children, in remote areas.

15. Strengthening research on marine natural products by studying bioactive and economically valuable marine substances, applying various bioassay guided isolation procedures and further chemical transformations; organization of a national seminar.

16. IGCP: Supporting UNESCO's Geoparks initiatives; and conducting geological impact assessments with a view to preserving and conserving the World Heritage Sites in Viet Nam.

17. IHP: Continuing to carry out projects on sustainable management of water resources for disadvantaged populations in remote areas and building ground and water resources for drought-stricken areas in Binh Thuan and Phan Thiet provinces, such as:

i) Follow-up activities of Workshop "Augmenting Groundwater Resources by Artificial Recharge in South East Asia" organised in Ho Chi Minh City, December 15-17, 2004;

ii) Demonstration project including training on wastewater treatment and reuse practices in Asia and contribution to augmenting groundwater resources by artificial recharge in Binh Thuan Province.

18. IOC: Undertaking the restoration and preservation of antique documents project on Oceanography.

19. MAB:

i) Setting up a National MAB Network for management and supervision of biosphere reserves, including the use of geographic information systems (GIS);

ii) Capacity enhancement for biosphere reserve management boards;

iii) Preparation of nomination dossiers for potential biosphere reserves;

iv) Monitoring and research on human settlement and land use patterns in buffer zones, and biodiversity conservation;

v) Developing community education projects in environment protection, biodiversity conservation, ecological tourism, etc.

SOCIAL AND HUMAN SCIENCES

20. Strengthening ethics in science and technology:

i) Raising awareness of and developing research on ethics in science and technology through active participation in UNESCO's Programme on the Ethics of Science and Technology (EST);

ii) Heightening awareness among the general public, specialized groups and public private decision-makers involved in bioethics through the exchange of ideas and information;

iii) Networking with experts in ethics teaching in order to discuss the status of teaching programmes as well as the possibilities to enhance the on-going teaching efforts.

21. Supporting the Management of Social Transformations Programme (MOST) by:

i) Raising awareness of social issues concerning human security, as the selected priority theme on the region, including the environment, HIV/AIDS and drug trafficking;

ii) Emphasizing linkages between social science research and public policy, including support to new networks, establishment of social science curriculum degree programmes in social sciences;

iii) Protection of migrants' rights and peaceful integration of migrants into society, especially in urban settings.

22. Mainstreaming gender equality in development: Supporting research, networking and awareness raising regarding gender equality and the human rights of women through enhancing women students programmes.

23. Philosophy and Human Sciences: Strengthening cooperation in the promotion of philosophical reflection, analysis, research and exchange, most notably in the context of the UNESCO Philosophy Day and the new UNESCO project on Inter-regional Philosophical Dialogues.

CULTURE

24. Further promote the respect for cultural diversity and interculturaldialogue through the systematic implementation of the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity and of the future Convention on the Protection of the Diversity of Cultural Contents and Artistic Expressions, by involving people from all walks of life, especially young people, in the preservation and promotion of their cultural identities, including the introduction of an educational programme on culture into the school curriculum:

i) Assisting in protecting cultural diversity by developing policies and programmes to promote the safeguard of both tangible and intangible cultural heritage identities in an integrated manner;

ii) Developing training of disadvantaged young people in the field of traditional crafts a factor in the struggle against poverty, notably in continuing the implementation of the project "Crafts in the classroom" (phase III) in cooperation between UNESCO and Vietnamese museums.

25. Enhancing the protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage:

i) Attaining the 'sustainability phase' in the safeguarding of the Hue Monuments under the International Safeguarding Campaign through the organization of the 10th Session of the Working Group for the Safeguarding of the Hue Monuments and World Heritage Site;

ii) Strengthening the management of the My Son Sanctuary World Heritage Site through capacity building among local site managers and the preparation of a sustainable conservation master plan in accordance with international standards;

iii) Strengthening the management of the Hoi An World Heritage site by building capacity of local stakeholders and decision makers in preventative conservation.

26. Strengthening cooperation for better protection and conservation of the Intangible Cultural heritage through:

i) Early ratification by Viet Nam of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage;

ii) Promoting research on intangible cultural heritage values in Viet Nam with a view to conserving endangered values;

iii) Developing an effective safeguarding project for "Nha Nhac, Vietnamese Court Music" as Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity proclaimed by UNESCO;

iv) Cooperating for and inventorying intangible cultural heritage in Viet Nam, as foreseen in the implementation of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage;

v) Active participation in the next Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

27. Promotion of sustainable tourism and heritage conservation through:

i) Establishment of national guidelines, rules, regulations and standards;

ii) Training of tourism personnel and community education in sustainable tourism;

iii) Research on the tourism capacity of heritage areas;

iv) Promoting the use of innovative management approaches such as eco-certification of tour operators and 'green' hotels;

v) Promoting cultural tourism development that involves and benefits local community stakeholders and fosters cultural innovation and renovation;

vi) Organizing an international youth forum on the theme "The Participation of Young People in the Development of Sustainable Heritage Tourism".

28. Developing inter-sectoral research on Cultural Diversity and Dialogue among Civilizations amidst globalization and rapid socio-economic changes in Viet Nam.

29. Activities to celebrate 1,000th Anniversary of Thang Long - Ha Noi:

i) Undertaking activities related to the celebration of 1,000th Anniversary of Thang Long - Ha Noi (up to 2010);

ii) Undertaking the management and preservation of Thang Long - Hanoi Cultural Heritage, namely Ba Dinh archaeological site, Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Hanoi Ancient Quarter, French colonial architecture and Long Bien Bridge;

iii) Setting up a project for conservation of a "traditional craft village" (lang nghe) in Hanoi;

iv) Conserving traditional crafts and development of cultural industries.

30. Implementation at the national level of the provision of the Jodhpur Consensus for the promotion of cultural industries for poverty eradication.

31. Training of tour guides specifically trained in heritage site interpretation.

32. Participation of Vietnamese institutions of higher learning in the UNESCO-ICCROM Asian Academy for Heritage Management.

COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION

33. Strengthening public information services among various government authorities and public institutions by improving public access and the quality of information resources and delivery channels.

34. Media development:

i) Strengthening technical capacities of professional local media organizations and training institutions for journalists;

ii) Promoting various public service functions of Viet Nam's public broadcasting companies through participation in intergovernmental programmes such as the International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC);

iii) Dissemination of newspapers, pictorials and media materials to remote areas paying special attention to producing materials in local minority languages.

35. Continuing the "Vision of UNESCO" programme produced by Voice of Viet Nam (VOV) which focuses on disseminating information about UNESCO in general and its work in Viet Nam in particular.

36. Developing media contents and services for the preservation of cultural identity and diversity:

i) Developing audiovisual media content to contribute to the preservation of the cultural identity of ethnic and linguistic minority population groups;

ii) Developing mechanisms for the creation of digital media content, using both Vietnamese and minority scripts.

37) Setting up pilot multipurpose community multimedia centres (CMC) in disadvantaged communities, and developing policy framework and guidelines for expansion across the country.

38. Utilization of ICTs in the preservation and dissemination of Viet Nam's cultural heritage within the framework of UNESCO's Memory of the World Programme.

NATIONAL COMMISSION

39. Compilation of documents on UNESCO and updating programmes and activities in the Vietnamese language.

40. Exchange/internship programme among the Viet Nam National Commission staff of other National Commission staff.

41. Further reinforcement of the capacity of the National Commission and affiliated agencies.

The Director-general of UNESCO took due note of the breadth and scope of the activities outlined by the Government of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and coordinated by the Viet Nam National Commission for UNESCO, and expressed willingness to pursue opportunities for cooperation and for mobilization of extra budgetary resources.

Done in Hanoi, on 27 July 2005, in two original copies in English./.